Impact protection enclosure for a mobile electronic device

Abstract

An add-on protective housing to improve protection of a portable electronic device. Certain embodiments include a hard external shell in the general conformation of the electronic device. The hard shell includes one or more aperture through which one or more control of the contained device may be operated. An energy distributing layer is disposed between the electronic device and the inner surface of the hard shell to space the device apart from the shell. Certain embodiments may provide fluid and/or dust resistance to the contained device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An add-on apparatus to increase ruggedness of a commercially available portable electronic device, the apparatus comprising:
 a hard shell configured in general agreement with the exterior of said electronic device and comprising enclosing sides including a front side, back side, top side, bottom side, left side, and right side, said sides being arranged to define a first volume, one or more window being disposed in one or more of said sides and configured to permit operation of at least one control of said electronic device when said electronic device is contained inside said shell; and   an energy distributing layer structured for disposition inside said shell and defining a second volume in which to receive said electronic device, said energy distributing layer being arranged to space a portion of said electronic device apart from direct contact with said shell.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said sides are structured and arranged in harmony with said energy distributing layer such that impact energy, generated by dropping said apparatus onto a flat surface, cannot be transferred to an electronic device contained inside said apparatus without first passing through said shell and a portion of said energy distributing layer.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said shell comprises a plurality of elements that may be assembled to form a uni-body enclosure.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said shell comprises a tub and a cover;   a perimeter edge of said tub comprises a shelf and a cantilevered rim, said rim being adapted to overlap structure of said cover at a joint there-between;   a cantilevered flange projects from an inside surface of said cover and skirts a portion of said perimeter edge of said cover, said flange being arranged to overlap said rim at said joint; and   wall elements of said flange and said rim carry a plurality of cylinder-in-socket retention structures, said retention structures being configured to effect a snap-together connection between said tub and said cover to form a uni-body enclosure that can be assembled and disassembled a plurality of times without requiring destruction of said retention structures.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said shell comprises a cover, a top tub, and a bottom tub;   a slide rail system is formed in combination between said cover, said top tub, and said bottom tub, said slide rail system being configured to permit slide-assembly of each said tub onto said cover;   a push-button flex latch is carried by one said tub and is configured and arranged to removably couple said top tub to said bottom tub when said top tub and said bottom tub are in an assembled location on said cover; and   a relief area is formed in said energy distributing element and is arranged to permit a user to impart a transverse deflection to said latch to permit separation of a said tub from said cover.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 a detent-and-ramp structure associated with said slide rail system is configured and arranged to resist sliding a said tub from an installed position.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said energy distributing layer comprises an elastomeric compound.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said energy distributing layer comprises memory foam, and a portion of said energy distributing layer is biased in compression upon assembly of said shell.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said energy distributing layer comprises a two-pocket element, each said pocket being structured to engage a portion of said electronic device in direct contact therein.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said two-pocket element is structured and arranged to be stretch-fit onto said electronic device during assembly of said apparatus.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said energy distributing layer comprises a first pocket configured to fit onto the top of said electronic device and a second pocket configured to fit onto the bottom of said electronic device.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said energy distributing layer comprises a plurality of discrete sections of energy distributing material.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 a portion of said energy distributing layer is affixed to an inside surface of said shell.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 a portion of said energy distributing layer is arranged as a door configured to cooperate with a first window in said shell to permit forming a dust-resistant seal there-between, a hinge of said door permitting rotation of said door in an outward direction through said first window.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a membrane disposable to cover a second window in one of said sides.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 said membrane is removable and replaceable.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a gasket configured and arranged to form a water-resistant seal, between said shell and said electronic device, around a perimeter of a display window of said shell such that a display window of said electronic device directly provides an area effective to resist water entry into said shell.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said shell is structured in harmony with said energy distributing layer, said electronic device, and one or more membrane associated with one or more window to permit placing said shell into a fluid-resistant configuration.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said shell is structured to contain a telephone and to carry a minimum 3-point load in excess of about 25 pounds, wherein:   two base points are spaced apart on one side of said shell by 4 inches and the load is applied on the opposite side at the mid-span location.   
     
     
         20 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a hard shell arranged to define a first volume, one or more window being disposed in said shell and configured to permit operation of at least one control of an electronic device when said electronic device is contained inside said shell;   an energy distributing layer structured for disposition inside said shell and defining a second volume in which to receive said electronic device, said energy distributing layer being arranged to space said electronic device apart from direct contact with said shell; and   a portion of said energy distributing layer being arranged as a door configured to cooperate with a first window in said shell to permit forming a dust-resistant seal there-between, a hinge of said door permitting rotation of said door in an outward direction through said first window.